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Vasantdada Patil

Vasantdada Patil
वसंतदादा पाटील
6th Chief Minister of Maharashtra
In office
17 April 1977 – 8 July 1978
Preceded by Shankarrao Chavan
Succeeded by Sharad Pawar
In office
2 February 1983 – 1 June 1985
Preceded by Babasaheb Bhosale
Succeeded by Shivajirao Nilangekar Patil
10th Governor of Rajasthan
In office
20 November 1985 – 15 October 1987
Preceded by Air Chf Mshl Om Prakash Mehra
Succeeded by Sukhdev Prasad
Member of the Indian Parliament
for Sangli
In office
1980–1984
Preceded by Annasaheb Gotkhinde
Succeeded by Prakashbapu Vasantdada Patil
Personal details
Born (1917-11-13)13 November 1917
Died 1 March 1989(1989-03-01) (aged 71)
Nationality Indian
Political party Indian National Congress (INC)
Children Prakashbapu Vasantdada Patil

Vasantdada Patil (13 November 1917 – 1 March 1989) was an Indian politician from Sangli, Maharashtra. He was known as the first modern Maratha strongman and first mass leader in Maharashtra's politics.

He was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 17 May 1977 to 18 July 1978 and again from 2 February 1983 to 1 June 1985. He also served as Governor of Rajasthan from 1985 to 1987.

Born on 13 Nov 1917 at 'Padmale' 3 km (1.9 mi) from Sangli, his native village. He studied up to the vernacular final. Then he took interest in his farm.

He was one of the young campaigner of Dhulappa Bhaurao Navale's election of local board in 1937 who was congress candidate. In 1940 Dhulappa Navale suggested Vasantdada's name for Tasgaon Taluka Congress secretory to Adv. Kutte & to R.P.Patil. Vasantdada took part in freedom struggle. In 1942, Mahatma Gandhi started the Satyagraha movement. Vinoba Bhave was the first satyagrahi & from Tasgaon Dhulappa Navale was first then was Vasantdada & V.S.Paage. For this he was jailed by the British government. In jail, he came under the influence of people like Babasaheb Kher, Sardar Patel and others.

He was also influenced by Netaji Subhashchandra Bose, and believed that satyagraha, morchas or people's movements alone would not get freedom. So he looted railways and merchants (this was to compensate for the money they needed to keep the freedom struggle alive), and got guns and revolvers from Goa. Many criminal cases were filed against him. The British government declared a prize of Rs.1000 for him. He tried to escape from the jail but was badly injured. He was then sentenced to imprisonment for 13 years.

On 25 April 1946 he was released and was welcomed by Sangli people. After Independence he started working on farmers' problems. He established a Market Committee in 1951, with the main intention of giving proper prices to agriculture products. In 1958, he with his friends Dhulappa Bhaurao Navale,Rambhau Arwade,Abasaheb Shinde,Shankarao Shinde,Abasheb Kulkarni(Khebudkar) started the largest Co-operative Sugar factory on 90 acres (360,000 m2) of land. In the first meeting Br. G.D.Patil was elected as the chief promotor .The name "Shetkari"(farmer) for Sugar factory was suggested by Dhulappa Navale and Shetkari Sahakari Sakar karkhana Ltd. Sangli was final.In 1960, he started an Industrial Society on 135 acres (0.55 km2) land. ITI were started to give technical training to youth. He made efforts to increase irrigation in Sangli. In 1960 he became the chief promoter of the Groundnut Processors Co-operative Society.


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